Shoulder harness for transport of water boards

ABSTRACT

A harness system for the transport of a water board, the harness system consisting of two adjustable straps, each strap having a padded portion for engagement with the shoulders of an individual, each strap of the harness having a securing means at each end removably securable to the surface of a water board such that the water board is secured to the back of the individual and supported by the individual&#39;s shoulders.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.61/744,200, filed Sep. 21, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to water boards, such as surfboards of anysize, boogey boards and the like, used with respect to aquaticrecreation and more particularly to a harness removably securable to thewater board which allows the water board to be transported by anindividual by supporting the water board to a harness secured to theindividual's shoulders and allowing the individual's hands and arms tobe free for the transport of additional equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Water boards are a popular form of aquatic recreation, particularlyalong the coastline where they can be utilized with respect to the wavesgenerated by the wind and tides.

Surfboards were the original form of water boards in which an individualwould paddle outwardly from the shoreline to a position where theindividual could catch a wave and ride the board into the shore. Fromthe original surfboards, additional types of water boards have beendeveloped, including boogey boards, which are smaller in shape and areridden in the prone position, and other boogey boards which are smallerin shape and which are ridden parallel to the shoreline in the breakingsurf.

Surfboards can be made from wood, but are primarily made from polymerand the same holds true for the smaller boogey boards. Surfboardsthemselves can come in various sizes. Typically the surfboard and boogeyboard are slightly unwieldy and are normally carried under the arm ofthe individual user. The boards must be transported from the vehicleacross the beach to the water line. Sometimes this is a relatively shortdistance, sometimes it is a relatively long distance. In addition, theboard user may have additional gear which he wishes to transport to theshore line for use, such as a wetsuit, fins, mask, or the like. Theretherefore has been a difficulty in transporting all of this equipment inone trip.

Applicant's harness allows the water board user to strap the board, beit a surfboard of any size, or a boogey board, to his back, the harnesssupport by the user's shoulders, such that the board can be transportedfrom a vehicle across the beach to the water's edge, leaving the user'shands free for carrying additional equipment, food or beverage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel harnesswhich allows an individual to transport a water board attached to theuser's back.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novelharness which is worn about the shoulders of an individual and secures awater board to the back of an individual for transport to the water'sedge.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for anovel harness which is easily secured and unsecured from a water boardwithout affecting the surface of the water board

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for anovel harness which is easily secured to the water board, easily removedfrom the water board, and easily stored when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A harness system for the transport of a water board, the harness systemconsisting of two adjustable straps, each strap having a padded portionfor engagement with the shoulders of an individual, each strap of theharness having a securing means at each end removably securable to thesurface of a water board such that the water board is secured to theback of the individual and supported by the individual's shoulders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent,particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the harness system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the harness system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the harness system of FIGS. 1 and 2 secured toa boogey board;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the harness system of FIGS. 1 and 2 secured toa surfboard;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an individual with the harness system of FIGS.1 and 2 secured to a surfboard;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an individual having the harness system ofFIGS. 1 and 2 secured to a surfboard; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a surfboard with an alternative form of theharness system secured thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front view of the harness invention of the present inventionand FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the harness elements. In thepreferred embodiment, the harness 10 is comprised of two identicalelements, each element having the same features. In FIG. 1 the twoelements 12 and 14 are shown in a vertical parallel relationship as theywould be secured to the water board. Each of the harness elements iscomprised of two suction cups 16 and 18 arranged in verticalrelationship with respect to the water board, the two suction cups 16and 18 are secured by an intermediate strap assembly 20 which consistsof an adjustable strap portion 22 having a buckle 24, and a padded strapportion 26 designed to interact and engage with the shoulders of theindividual. The strap members are secured to the respective suction cups16 and 18 by a securing means 30 which may be a nut and bolt assembly,or other suitable securing means such as a rivet or the like.

The adjustable strap portion 22 and buckle 24 allow for the strap memberto be adjusted to the torso and height of the individual. The suctioncups 16 and 18 on each harness 12 and 14 are designed to be engaged witha surface of a water board. The water board can thus be carried on theback of an individual leaving the individual's arms free for carryingadditional gear.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a boogie board 34 in which the strap membersas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been affixed. FIG. 4 is a frontview of a surfboard 36 again in which the harness members 12 and 14 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 have been affixed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an individual's torso illustrating the harnesssystem 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 engaged with the individual's shoulders 40,and engaged with a surfboard 36 illustrating the manner in which thesurfboard is supported by the individual's torso and shoulders so thatthe individual's hands and arms remain free for carrying or transportingadditional gear across the beach to the waters edge.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the harness system of FIGS. 1 and 2 engagedwith the shoulders of a individual illustrating the manner in which thesurfboard is supported by the shoulders of the individual for transportto the waters edge.

In all of the aforesaid illustrations, the preferred embodiment of theharness system utilizing the suction cups allows for the individual toquickly and easily secure the harness system to the surface of the waterboard and to engage the harness system with the shoulders of theindividual for the transport of the water board to and from the watersedge while allowing the individual's hands and arms freedom to carry ortransport additional gear.

It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art thatdifferent manners of arrangement with respect to the harness system areand will be available, which would allow such transport. FIG. 7illustrates the elimination of the suction cups with a harness systemutilizing adjustable horizontal straps 50 and 52 which would be drawntaut, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the water board. Straps50 and 52 drawn taut would then have the intermediate strap assemblies20 of FIGS. 1 and 2 including the padded portions 26 adjustable strap 22and buckle 24 secured to them. Since most water boards are somewhattapered from the middle to the rear end and the front end (A and B),these taut straps would prevent the water board from slipping throughthe harness.

FIG. 7 illustrates the alternative manner of transport in which the twotaut straps 50 and 52 are drawn taut about the surfboard 36, thesestraps having similar intermediate support straps 20 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 having adjustable strap lengths 22, a buckle 24, and apadded portion 26 for engagement with the shoulders of the individual.The intermediate support straps 20 for supporting the water board on theshoulders of the individual could be fixedly secured to the horizontaltaut straps 50 and 52 drawn tautly about the surfboard or water board36, or could be secured to these horizontal straps by means of eyehooks, carboniers or the like. It must be remembered that the transportharness should allow for the transport of the water board, but shouldnot have hardware associated with it which would damage or mar thesurface of the water board which could affect the water boardsperformance or lead to deterioration of the water board.

Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respectto the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those ofordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It istherefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by theclaims and the equivalence thereof.

I claim:
 1. A harness system for the hands-free transport of a waterboard by a user, the harness system comprising: a water board; a pair ofvertically oriented harnesses parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidwater board, each of said vertically oriented harnesses comprising anupper harness strap, and a lower harness strap, secured together by aslide clip for adjustment of the harness straps; a securing meanssecuring the harness straps to a surface of said water board allowing auser to support the water board in a vertically oriented position on theuser's back.
 2. The harness system in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid securing means for said harness system comprises a plurality ofsuction cups, one suction cup secured to an upper end of each of saidupper harness straps and one suction cup to a lower end of each saidlower harness straps, said suction cups selectively compressed andengaged with a surface of said water board to secure said harness systemto said water board, a user inserting the arms and shoulders throughsaid vertically oriented harnesses for support of said water board onsaid user's back.
 3. The harness system in accordance with claim 2wherein said upper harness straps of said harness system incorporate apadded shoulder pad for engagement with shoulders of said user.
 4. Theharness system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said securing meanscomprises a pair of adjustable horizontally oriented loop straps, onehorizontal loop strap secured to lower ends of said lower harness strapsof said harness system, an opposing horizontal loop strap secured toupper ends of said upper straps of said harness system, said adjustablehorizontal oriented loop straps circumforentially frictionally engaginga tapered lower portion of said water board and a tapered upper portionof said water board to permit hands-free transport of said water boardon the back and shoulders of said user.
 5. The harness system inaccordance with claim 4 wherein said upper harness straps of saidharness system incorporate a padded shoulder member for engagement withthe shoulders of said user.